hap dixon in the case of the dark tunnel: chapter 2, a disturbing scene

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by jason gusmann

visuals by rhoda penmarq



Chapter Two: A Disturbing Scene

Hap Dixon peers through the eyepiece of Yardley Shaw’s telescope and looks up at the stars. Oh, boy! says Hap. There must be dozens of them up there. Yardley gently takes the telescope from Hap and repositions it. Sometimes if you look closer to the horizon you can see some of the more nearby planets, like Venus or Mars, he says brightly. When Hap looks through the eyepiece again he sees a window across the street on the second floor of the Reilly’s house. He is just about to tell Yardley that the positioning is wrong but in the window Hap can see Mr. Reilly and Mrs. Reilly moving back and forth within the frame. Mr. Reilly holds Mrs. Reilly’s hair and has his other arm around her waist. Hap cannot hear due to the distance but Mrs. Reilly appears to be in pain and her mouth is open as if she is screaming. Mr. Reilly pushes Mrs. Reilly down out of the line of sight and smiles. Then Mr. Reilly follows her down, also out of range. Hap takes his eye from the telescope and looks at Yardley. Oh no! exclaims Hap. This looks like a murder! Let me see! exclaims Yardley. He squinches his face up and puts his eye to the eyepiece. After a moment Yardley moves back and looks at Hap. I don’t see anything! Hap grabs the telescope and looks again. The light is off in the Reillys’ window and the shades have been drawn. Hap looks at Yardley and says, But I saw them! I saw him killing her! Yardley reaches over and begins to compress the telescope. I better take this in, Hap. It’s getting late! As Hap walks Bodie home he says, I don’t think Yardley believed me, Bodie. But you believe me, right, boy? Bodie barks once. When Hap and Bodie get home, Dad is waiting for them in his robe and pajamas. Dad has become cross. Hap, it’s late! Get to bed this instant! Hap looks downcast and nods, Okay, Dad. Bodie follows Hap up the stairs. Aunt Cindy is nowhere to be seen but her black high-heeled shoes remain lying on the orange rug. Hap puts on his pajamas and gets under the covers. Bodie jumps up onto the end of the bed. I’m sure I saw Mr. Reilly murdering Mrs. Reilly, Bodie! Hap whispers with conviction. Bodie whines sadly. But how can I go about proving it? Suddenly, a high-pitched pinging sound comes from upstairs. Oh boy! Hap enthuses. The shortwave set! Hap looks over at Bodie, concerned. But what if Dad catches me? I’ll never solve this mystery if I don’t find more clues! I’ll just be very quiet and go up to the attic! Bodie lies down, his head pointed away from Hap. Oh, I’ll be careful, boy! Don’t worry so much. Hap takes the flashlight off the wooden table upon which all of his detecting equipment lies and tiptoes out of his bedroom. The attic is dark and brown. Hap kneels down in front of the shortwave radio by the window. He depresses the button on the microphone base and says quietly, This is HDWXY 1, over. There is an immediate response. The high-pitched pinging sound returns, and it is followed by a man with a low voice. The man says, WHISKEY HOTEL ECHO ROMEO ECHO DELTA OSCAR Hap uses the pad and pen he keeps by the shortwave set and writes down the first letter of every word in the transmission. The high-pitched pinging sound repeats, and then the man with the low voice repeats everything he said the first time. Then the high-pitched pinging sound transmits again, and then there is silence. Hap looks down at the pad and reads the lengthy completed message. It says, WHERE DO THEY PUT THE EMPTY ANGELS HAP WHERE DO THEY HIDE THE BROKEN VESSEL Oh boy! exclaims Hap. This is the strangest clue I’ve ever seen!

chapter 3, an unpleasant discovery

ruby, part 3

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to be continued

hap dixon in the case of the dark tunnel: chapter 1, a stout chum

by jason gusmann

visuals by rhoda penmarq

Hap Dixon in the Case of the Dark Tunnel Chapter One: A Stout Chum Her legs are thin and her dress is black; the picture above the sofa's cracked. Mom is no longer in the picture in the brown wooden frame. No blonde hair, no blue dress, no devil mask. There is only blue sky and a russet tree. Aunt Cindy sits on the left side of the green sofa in her short black dress. She has short black hair and long white legs. Her long white legs are crossed at the knee. Her suspended white right foot shakes incessantly. The black high-heeled shoe that dangles from it shakes along. Bodie the dog sits on the orange rug near the green sofa watching Aunt Cindy's white right foot and her black high-heeled shoe. Aunt Cindy watches Bodie and ashes her long white cigarette on the orange rug. Bodie watches the ash descend, then turns his attention back to Aunt Cindy’s shaking foot and shoe. Dad sits on the right side of the green sofa eating a TV dinner which sits upon a tan TV tray. Hap Dixon sits between Dad and Aunt Cindy eating a TV dinner which sits upon another tan TV tray. Dad and Hap Dixon watch the television in the big brown console. The television is off. What’s on for tonight, Hap? asks Dad. Hap swallows what he is chewing. I think I’ll probably just do some homework. Aunt Cindy sighs. Bodie growls at Aunt Cindy. Maybe I’ll take Bodie for a walk first, though, Hap adds. Sounds good, Hap! says Dad as he pushes his TV tray back and gets up. Hap follows Dad, glancing back at Aunt Cindy. I’ll just grab a light fall jacket first. Aunt Cindy glares at Hap, again ashes her long white cigarette onto the orange rug. Bodie follows Hap up the staircase behind the wall which abuts the big, brown console television. Hap walks into his bedroom, which is sizable for a boy his age. Hap sits on his bed, which rests against a sky blue wall with an oxblood red pennant on it that reads BASEBALL. Hap’s bed is neatly made. Hap sighs, Bodie, I just don’t know what to make of Aunt Cindy sometimes. Bodie whines. I know you don’t like her either, boy, but we’ve just got to make the best of it. Hap grabs his fall jacket and springs to his feet. Now, let’s go for that walk, boy! Bodie wags his tail and barks happily. Hap bounds down the stairs and Bodie follows. Dad pauses lighting his pipe to say to Hap, Why don’t you stop by Yardley Shaw’s while you are out? Hap replies, Sure, Dad, that’s a swell idea! Dad wags his finger at them as they leave the house, Don’t be too late, though, Hap - it’s already getting dark. We won’t, Dad! Hap calls over his shoulder. Dad waves to Hap and Bodie while Aunt Cindy, still seated on the green sofa, takes off her black high-heeled shoes. Hap and Bodie half-run, half-walk down the block until they see a stout young man in a navy blue polo shirt and plaid shorts waving to them from his front yard. Hi Yardley! calls Hap. Hello chum! calls Yardley Shaw back to Hap. And there’s my Bodie dog! Bodie quickly pads up to Yardley and jumps up on him, nearly knocking the stout fellow over. Whoa there, Bodie! Yardley reaches into his plaid shorts and pulls out a sweet for Bodie. So what are you pals doing, painting the town red? Hap bashfully kicks the ground. No, Yardley, we’re just going for a walk. Suddenly, Hap snaps his fingers. Hey! I just had a swell idea. Do you think it’s dark enough to use your telescope? Yardley squints into the deepening dusk. I think it just might be, Hap! Oh boy! exclaims Hap. This will be fun!